Columbia Man Was Shot During Robbery Attempt, Police Say

Authorities say a Columbia man who publicly urged youths to stay away from violence had been attempting to rob a home when he was fatally shot during a confrontation with a resident.

Boone County Sheriff's Department said in a news release that 26-year-old Ahmonta Harris "unlawfully" entered the home Saturday near the Lake of the Woods Golf Course. The release says Harris was killed when he threatened an armed 20-year-old resident. No one else was hurt.

But he also frequently attended community meetings and was known for organizing an event dubbed the "Fireworks War" as a way to bring people together. Authorities decried the event as dangerous and vowed to stop it from happening again.